Three guys with local ties played a large role in ending the North’s 12 year winning streak in the 2015 edition of the Alabama High School Athletic Association’s all-star basketball game.

The South, which was coached by Dallas County boys basketball coach Willie Moore and featured Southside’s Charles Price and Keith’s John Pettway, won the game 72-65 at the Dunn-Oliver Acadome in Montgomery. Moore said he talked to his team about the North’s winning streak the entire week.

“It was discussed from the very first day,” Moore said of the streak.

“I told the guys, ‘Look, it’s been since 2002 since the South team had an opportunity to win, and the perception is the South is not as coachable and is more into themselves and they do not play quality basketball.’”

Moore’s message must’ve resonated with his players, because the South came to play. Pettway scored 10 points while taking a game high 14 shots and also added two rebounds. Price scored two points on three shots and added three rebounds in nine minutes.

“Last night we came out with a chip on our shoulder and we played hard and played together to break the streak,” Pettway said.

Moore praised both local players for the way they represented Dallas County throughout the week of practice and in the game. He said he told the entire team they’d have to sacrifice minutes and points for the South to be successful and they bought in.

“You don’t play with that many good players on a daily basis on one team period, so you’ve just got to get used to sharing the ball,” Price said.

Through the week of practice and the game, both players said they learned valuable lessons they hope to take forward in their careers.

“When I get to college, I won’t have the ball in my hands so much,” Pettway said.

“I’ll have to move around and try to get myself open. We moved without the ball and that’s how we won.”

 

Winchester, South fall in all-star game

Keith girls basketball player Harriet Winchester scored six first half points but the South fell to the North 60-56.

Winchester scored all six of her points in the first half and played 12 total minutes.

The Lady Bears player was dealing with a sore wrist after injuring herself on a four-wheeler earlier this week.